Boudjellal happy with Wilkinson signing

19 May 2009 11:27:00

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal insists the recruitment of injury-prone England star Jonny Wilkinson from Newcastle is a gamble worth taking.
Since dropping the goal that won England the World Cup in 2003, Wilkinson has been plagued by injury problems and he has not played since dislocating a kneecap on Newcastle duty at Gloucester last September.
"If it doesn't work out, we'll put it down to a moment of folly," said Boudjellal, who has bankrolled Toulon for the past few years after making his fortune from the comic-book business.
He added: "But who hasn't fantasised about a rugby player like Wilkinson, a great among the greats, a player who is out of this world?"
Wilkinson has signed a two-year contract with Toulon and his sojourn to the French Riviera will provide him with a chance to kickstart his career.
Fitness permitting, his competitive debut for Toulon will come on the weekend of August 15/16.
"I spoke to him on the telephone," Philippe Saint-Andre, Toulon's new director of rugby, said.
"He is going to take medical tests to be sure he will be at 100% for the start of the season."